Chapter Six
QueenOctavia
Istaredat the letter from Klyn as the guards escorted River to the cellar. It was all that I could do to give off some semblance that I was still completely in charge, despite the information that had just come tolight.
My mind raced as I tried to organize my thoughts. I was worried sick about Klyn. I was angry and felt betrayed by River. And if those two major situations were not enough, I did not understand how the Halo of Darick could have failed. How had River basically sauntered into the castle? How had he sauntered intomycastle?
I retreated to my quarters and took my gentlemen with me, as Klyn had suggested. Once upstairs, I stared in disgust at the bench that River had brought up here just thismorning.
“Liam, Ethan, move this bench out to the corridor at once,” Icommanded.
As they quietly moved the bench out of my room, I sat down on the settee near the window. I mused how the sky that had been pitch black was now only a gloomy light gray. It was the gray that came with light rainshowers.
“My Queen?” Sean calledout.
“Sit down, gentlemen,” I gentlysaid.
The four young men gathered around, and I handed them the letter from Klyn so each of them could read it. My mind jumped from one topic to another as the letter passed the hands of mygentlemen.
“What are you going to do, my Queen?” Michanasked.
“We have to save him, my Queen,” Ethanadded.
“I am coming with you,” Liamdeclared.
“I am, too!” Seanblurted.
I held my hands up so their chatter wouldstop.
“Boys, there is no question about saving Klyn. We will get Klyn back. I just have to think of how to do it exactly,” Iexplained.
I partially listened to their ideas and felt blessed that I had four loyal gentlemen by my side, unlike the man that sat in the jowls of thecastle.
How in the bloody hell had River gotten into thecastle?
“Michan, pass me the letter, please,” I said and held my hand out forit.
I read over and over again before anything began to register. I focused on the next to the last line:your new one bears the mark that appeared on us. It was Klyn’s warning to me. While he had not flat out told me to not trust River, he warned me to be cautious aroundhim.
The line that preceded his warning was telling me to keep Liam, Michan, Ethan, and Sean close. Had Klyn said that I should keep the four of them close for my sake, or theirs? I shook my head as I thought about Klyn and hisriddles.
I could not even begin to focus on his line instructing me to forget him.Think and see with your mind, and do not be guided by your heart.He had always been rather adamant about me having a soft side. I denied it for centuries. But he was right, and he knew that I would feel his absence in my chest. He knew my heart would ache and that I would want to go find him. This time, though, he told me not to be guided by my heart. He said for me to use my head…and not do anything dangerous, in more or lesswords.
I would not jeopardize the young lives of my four gentlemen. They had lives ahead of them to lead once they left me. Each of them would find their niche in Drishane and settle down with someone. Perhaps they would start a family. I will watch them age and then feel the anguish when theypass.
“Excuse me for a moment,” Iwhispered.
I hurried to my washroom to dry my eyes before the tears fell and the boys saw. The only thing that has made this lifestyle bearable has been the friendship and love of Klyn. We had been doing this for centuries; both of us were stuck as immortals. I would not live this life withouthim.
The boys all turned their heads to look at me when I came out of thewashroom.
“Alright, my Queen?” Seanasked.
“Yes, thankyou.”
I sat down again, and we began to discuss where Carpe Noctem might be keepingKlyn.
“Want me to go get Klyn’s book that has a map of Dreyle?” Liamoffered.
